Nonmedical use of Prescription Opioids by Adolescents: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Concomitant with increases in prescriptions for controlled opioids, rates of nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) have increased, including among adolescents aged 12–19 years. Adolescent NMUPO poses particular problems for clinicians, as prescribing physicians and dentists serve as the primary source of opioids for NMUPO in the majority of cases. Furthermore, early initiation of NMUPO appears to increase the risk of developing opioid dependence in adulthood. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with adolescent NMUPO, steps taken by clinicians to limit the scope of this phenomenon are needed. This article aims to aid clinicians by reviewing the literature on adolescent NMUPO and making specific recommendations to limit the scope of adolescent NMUPO.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported in part by a Research Enhancement Program grant awarded by Texas State University. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by a Research Enhancement Program grant awarded by Texas State University. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.